INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. The obesity epidemic has been attacking with full impact, and studies show that obesity level have nearly doubled since the 1990s. I was curious to find more about this rising issue so I began to do some research of my own.
RESEARCH
I began to scour through library books about obesity and its health effects like diabetes, hypertension, and more. Then, I read reports and looked at articles on different websites like the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Obesity Action Coalition. I realized that I wanted to raise awareness and educate people about this underrated disease, but how many people actually knew about it already?
LOCATIONS
I wanted to set up a table at a couple of different locations and talk to people about obesity. I also would ask them one question at the end — At what BMI is a person considered “obese”. After a bit of thinking, I decided on 3 locations — a library, a gym, and a pharmacy. I chose the library because it was just a general place people of all ages would come for many different reasons. I chose the gym because the people who go there are probably educated and know that they have to stay healthy, or the people would be trying to lose weight. Lastly, the pharmacy, because that’s where many people go to pick up their medicines and prescriptions. I contacted the managers of all 3 places and I was ready to go!
DATA ANALYSIS
The results were actually very surprising!
LIBRARY
In the library, I talked to about 26 people about obesity and asked them the question. Nearly 75% of the people I spoke with had no clue at all of what BMI was. I then showed them the chart and educated them about BMI. The remaining people knew that BMI stood for Body Mass Index, but shockingly, no one, I repeat NO ONE, knew that a person is considered obese at 30.
GYM
I asked 50 different people at the gym for my survey. The results there were surprising too! Many people didn’t know what BMI was at the gym either! They only knew that they had to exercise to stay fit. But, a lot of people did know a basic understanding — that it stood for Body Mass Index. About 5 people had the correct answer, but most of the people answered from 25 to 34. Many people knew the 18.5-24.9 was the healthy range, so some people guessed that any number over 25 was considered obese. On average, most of the answers were from 25-34.
PHARMACY
At the pharmacy, I asked a variety of people — customers, staff,a and even some pharmacists. I got 20 answers from the people in the pharmacy. Even there, some people didn’t know what BMI was — even some people picking up prescriptions. Even some people working at the pharmacy had no clue. Only the 2 pharmacists I talked to knew the right answer. What was really sad was that even some overweight people had no idea what BMI was.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, over half of the people in each place didn’t know what BMI was, and only very few knew the answer. I found out that the few people who had gotten it correct had obesity themselves, or were in the medical field. After that, I was knew something was fishy, and I was curious about why so many people didn’t know about BMI. I went my pediatrician and talked to her about this issue,. She told me that many doctors talked to their patients about weight loss or gain, but they never talk about BMI to their patients. She said a lot of overweight patients feel embarrassed when their BMI is revealed. This experience taught me so much, both about obesity, and about marketing!
What can you do to help in cutting away from this epidemic? I encourage you to first, find out your BMI, make lifestyle changes for the better, and then, go out and educate the world about how dangerous obesity could be!